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Soil Data for Wind Erosion Prediction System
H. R. Sinclair
Abstract
Data elements from the United States Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources
Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) soil survey database were used in the USDA- Agricultural
Research Service (ARS) wind erosion models. Numeric values from the data elements, as well
as their relationships, predict soil loss for same or similar soils having the same
climate, use, and management. Farmers and ranchers with the same or similar soils having
the same meteorology, use and management should expect to apply the same conservation
management systems to control wind erosion. Data elements, therefore, need to be
correlated, coordinated, and arrayed for all soils in the soil survey database before wind
erosion models are used for conservation planning. An assessment of quality can be done by
using a computer model to run against the soil survey database to test each soil data
element. The computer model indicates which soil data elements need attention in the soil
survey database. The paper discusses some approaches to determine which soil data elements
are correlated, coordinated, and arrayed properly in the soil survey database to provide
appropriate information for wind erosion prediction. |
